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Thursday, February 2, 2012

Game Day Snacks with a Twist

You knew I wouldn’t let the Super Bowl pass by without a few tasty snack recipes, didn’t you? These are not necessarily the processed fatbombs my GI Joe would choose, but he does really enjoy them. I think they’re immeasurably better than his choices, though, and I hope you will, too.

Prosciutto-Wrapped Pears

2 pears, cored and cut into 12 wedges

4 wafer-thin slices prosciutto

12 small basil leaves (or 12 pieces from larger leaves)

Balsamic Vinegar, for drizzling

Shaved Parmesan Reggiano (I use a vegetable peeler to make shavings)

Cut the prosciutto into 3 long pieces per slice. Holding a basil leaf on a slice of pear, wrap 1 piece of the prosciutto around. Repeat until they’re all wrapped. Heat a large skillet over medium high heat, then brown the wrapped pears in it, turning after a couple of minutes to brown each side.

Place on serving plate, drizzle with balsamic, and sprinkle with Parmesan shavings.

This is excellent with fresh peaches, too, when they’re in season. Pears are so juicy right now, they work well this time of year.

Carmelized Onion Dip

2 cups thinly sliced onion

2 Tbsp olive oil

2 Tbsp butter

2 tsp sugar

1 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar

1 Tbsp black pepper

8 oz light sour cream

8 oz light cream cheese

In a medium skillet, melt the butter with the olive oil over medium-low heat. Add onions and sprinkle with sugar. Stirring frequently, cook over medium-low heat until caramelized and golden. Add balsamic vinegar and black pepper, stir, and remove from heat. Let cool to room temperature.

Cream together the sour cream and cream cheese, then stir in onions. Chill until 30 minutes before serving. Serve with classic ridged potato chips (I used baked, and they taste great with it!).

Buffalo Chicken Salad Sliders

3 cups chicken breast, cooked and shredded or diced fine

1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt

1/4 cup light mayonnaise

1/2 cup blue cheese, crumbled

4 celery ribs, diced

2 Tbsp Frank’s Hot Sauce (or your wing sauce of choice)

8 slider buns or dinner rolls

Mix all except buns in medium bowl. Put about 1/4 cup chicken salad on each slider roll bottom. If desired, top with blue cheese dressing, more hot sauce, or provolone cheese. We like them with just the chicken and bread, though.

I’m also going to make these Cranberry Feta Pinwheels, which I found on the Food Network site. For drinks, we’ll have the standard beer, but also a couple of other drinks for the kids and me. Can you guess which is for whom?

Cherry-Almond Cream Sodas

(per soda)

1 Tbsp concentrated cherry juice

1 Tbsp Almond Syrup (such as Torani)

2 Tbsp fat-free half and half (optional)

Plain Seltzer water

Ice

Put ice in glass, add cherry concentrate and half and half, and fill rest of glass with seltzer. For an adult version, add 2 Tbsp amaretto, as well.

Oatmeal Apple Shandy

6 oz oatmeal stout

2 oz apple cider

Just put them in a glass together and enjoy! It’s super smooth and delicious. This is the one for me, in case you were wondering!

So no matter who you’re rooting for (our two favorites didn’t make it, even!), enjoy the game, the ads, and most of all, the snacks!